We met at Frederick Street Coffee House: bloggers and stitch-ists from as far afield as Bath and London, with a fair smattering of locals too.

Our wonderful hostesses had planned a whistle-stop tour of the best Edinburgh could offer lovers of vintage, knitting and sewing supplies.
We visited Armstrongs, Edinburgh fabrics, Mandors and The Cloth Shop.

I was really sorry that Miss Dibs couldn't make it.
Be well, missus! We missed you!

You know how you feel like you "know" people through their blogs?
And how easy it is to chat away when everyone shares the same language of "Meringues" and "Beignets" and "Taffy"!
Isn't it clever of Colette to name their patterns like this? "Simplicity 1234" just isn't as memorable or evocative of a sewing treat!

We had a group photo session in Princes Street gardens.

There was lots of grinning!

I am looking forward to seeing the "official" group photo by the fountain on Debi's blog: her husband kindly offered to pander to the vanity of 22 (or so) sewing-obsessives and take over point-and-shoot duties.

I also may have succumbed to a remnant of purple cotton velvet to make a pair of winter shorts - hee hee hee! And 2 metres of a red and green warm plaid seersucker-ish fabric. This is destined to be some sort of bias-cut assymetric Westwood-influenced skirt. Listen - they made me do it!
Believe that and you'll believe anything...

It was SUCH a great day! Yay - I kept my Resolution to Get Out There!

Next time I will plan to stay for dinner. I felt like a manic Cinderella as I power-walked up Leith Walk trying to get to the station in time to catch my 5.40pm train. The perceptive among you will notice that my train ticket was for Haymarket station... which is nowhere near our final shopping destination! I tried to catch a bus back to Princes Street, but missed the only one I saw - nooooo! So I ended up half-jogging to Waverley station and begging the guard to let me board the train a stop too early. They were just about to close the doors - talk about a close thing! I nearly had to spend the night in Edinburgh after all!

P.S. "100% Various" was the fibre contents description I saw on a bolt of fabric in The Cloth Shop - I wish I had taken a photo! It made me laugh!

The only photo of me on my camera and my eyes are shut - typical! But more to the point - look at poor Tom and Debi in the background trying to get everyone to pose together for the group picture, while the three of us were messing about swapping cameras!

18 comments:

You're quick off the mark! I love you, Roobeedoo!!!! Love, love, love. It was so great to finally meet you today. Didn't we have the best time? I can't wait to see the group shot either. Am about to switch my light out and sleep the sleep of the dead. I'm zonked! NB I saw that purple velvet first hand and can confirm that it is unbelievably, perfect Roobeedoo!

Sounds like sooooo much fun! So glad you made it out there, wish there was some way to smoosh our continents together to get to meet you in person! As a very poor substitute, I would settle for seeing those purple velvet shorts made up =). Your fabric purchases made me smile!

OMG. Sorry you had such a near call with the train...we should have called you a taxi!!! But glad you made it in the end! It was SO LOVELY to meet you!!!! I am so happy you came down for the day!!!! And let me know if you are ever down in Edi or Glasgow again!! xoxo

Oh so perfect was it to finally meet you oh Roo!I loved talking and walking to fabric shops old and newPurple velvet shorts? How so perfectly very you ! Xxx

How did I miss witnessing that fabric buying you mention. All I saw was the tartan and I marvelled at your restraint. So glad to see you did not resist too much. Yikes re train near fiasco! But glad you made it. By the way, I flagged big time in the evening, and admit my b&b lured me back straight after eating. No staying power it seems!

About Me

I live with my First Love (FL) after half a lifetime apart.
In July 2007 he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.
We got married in December 2007.
Carpe diem.
There is lots of wind and sky where I live.
I love reading and stitching and creating things.
I aim to make all my own clothing
or purchase it from ethically-minded
independent creators.
For now. For always.